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Masskara Festival:
Not yet published by Mei Mei P. Lonasco
Country: Philippines 
The Experience
The word "masskara" means "mask" and this explains the festival's distinct characteristic - dancers wearing smiling masks adorned with beads and other ornaments. Philippine festivals would be nothing if it doesn't involve street dancing and partying and the festival's highlight is its street dancing that happens on a weekend closest to October 19 which is the city's foundation day.
The story behind this festival is quite sorrowful contrary to the smiling faces of the masks worn by people celebrating the festival.
When to Go to Masskara Festival
Want a Guide?
- Next Stop Negros Tours
- Offers tours to the different parts of Negros Island. Some of their tours include journey to old sugarcane plantations with packages that let participants experience the life of a "haciendera" or sugar baron.
Places to Eat
- Ripples Restaurant
- Ripples Restaurant is the in-house restaurant of L'Fisher Hotel, one of the best hotels in the city of Bacolod. Serving both international and local dishes in a formal setting, Ripples is one of the most elite hotels in the city.
- Manokan Country
- "Manok" means "chicken" and Bacolod City is noted throughout the country for its chicken "inasal" or grilled chicken. Manokan Country is actually a small section of the city where various chichen "inasal" eateries can be found. It is located close to the port of Bacolod and SM Bacolod, a popular department store.
- L'Kaisei Japanese Restaurant
- The most famous and sought-after Japanese restaurant in the city. Located at the heart of Bacolod, L'Kaisei serves Japanese food like sushi, maki, gyoza and sobas.
- Calea
- The perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth while in Bacolod. This cake shop offers the most sumptuous cakes and pastries at affordable prices.
Recommended Places to Stay
- L'Fisher Hotel Bacolod
- Recognized as the Best First Class Hotel in Western Visayas by the Philippine Department of Tourism. Upscale accommodation in Bacolod with plenty of amenities and facilities like no other in the city.
- Circle Inn Bacolod
- Hotel in downtown Bacolod that has a family room, spacious enough for eight people.
- The Sylvia Manor Hotel
- Bacolod City's only boutique hotel and recognized as the best hotel in Western Visayas under the Standard Class.
More Experiences Nearby
- Get Locked into History at the Elmina Slave Castle
- As the door slammed shut, a wave of claustrophobia enveloped the thirty-two people crammed into a dingy cell at the Elmina Castle on the Ghanaian Gold Coast. The cells here are no bigger than an average closet, and the only light which can be seen from the inside is a small square of light at the door. Everything inside the cell was black and quiet except for the breathing of those people around me. A few moments later, the door swung open and my lungs breathed in fresh air with relief. The staggering moment came when our tour guide informed ...364 miles away.
- Catch a Bird's Eye View of the Rainforest in Kakum National Park
- My heart pounds as I look over the landscape. Taking the first step is key to one of the greatest experiences I'll have in Ghana, if I can just get over the height. One deep breathe in and I'm going for it. Stepping onto the first bridge feels like freedom in the sky. It's a shaky freedom for me but freedom nonetheless. Exploring Kakum National Park in central Ghana provides an exhilarating close look at African nature. At 40 meters high in some areas, taking a canopy tour over the Kakum rainforest feels like a walk in the clouds. North ...386 miles away.
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
French 
,
Hindi
,
Indonesian
,
Italian
,
Japanese
,
Mandarin
,
Spanish
,
Vietnamese
are some of the languages spoken in Philippines. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
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